‘The White Queen’ Recap, Episode 8: ‘Long Live the King’

The House of York is in disarray. No one in the royal court can be trusted in “Long Live the King,” the latest installment of the Starz series “The White Queen.”

The death of a king brings the ascent of another — and Queen Elizabeth’s wealth, influence and legacy are in peril.

Yet, when the episode opens, there are few signs of trouble. It’s spring 1483, and the next generation is coming of age. Henry Tudor has grown into a confident swordsman under the instruction of his uncle Jasper, who is noticeably older and wears a beard. Speaking of aging, Elizabeth’s youthful glow has faded as she is now in her mid 40s, and Margaret Beaufort’s hair is starting to gray (though neither woman shows any wrinkles).

Margaret tells Elizabeth she is pleased that her son Henry will finally come out of exile. Elizabeth pauses, “It seems your boy is not a threat to us anymore.” Margaret is quick to correct her. “He’s a man now.”

At an intimate York family dinner, there is some good-natured ribbing between King Edward and his elder daughter Lizzy, now a teenager. The past few years have been relatively peaceful for Edward, Elizabeth and their children, but that’s all about to change.

The king suddenly becomes ill with a fever. Elizabeth tends to him, though the situation is grave. The family gathers at his bedside, including brother Richard and wife Anne, and his mother Duchess Cicely.

The duchess, played by Caroline Goodall, was a scene-stealer in the last episode when she pleaded with the king to spare George’s life. She is equally as captivating as she tries to undermine Elizabeth’s attempts to hang on to power now that the king is bedridden and their son, next in line for the throne, is barely a teenager. Cicely says to Anne and Richard that Elizabeth’s “fortunes fade with the king. She’s like a wounded beast defending her lair.”

Everyone is waiting on the king’s word about succession. On his deathbed, Edward names Richard as Lord Protector to the young prince. Elizabeth is stunned and begrudgingly accepts. She assumed her brother Anthony would be named guardian since he has been overseeing Prince Edward’s instruction.

Elizabeth’s future is in jeopardy. Power no longer rests with the Rivers family but firmly in Richard’s grasp. Richard, who becomes Lord Protector when the prince is crowned, promises to do right by Edward.

The king knows Elizabeth is unhappy about the plan and explains that he trusts Richard. But none of that matters at this moment. “Please don’t make me waste my last words on matters of state,” he says.

A distraught Elizabeth leaves the king’s bedroom. The relatives, gathered outside the door, bow their heads in a sign of respect as she walks by — everyone except Cicely. “You won’t even bow to me,” grief-stricken Elizabeth says to the duchess. “We are equal now; both mothers to a king,” Cicely says in defiance.

Margaret and husband Lord Stanley, meanwhile, are plotting for their rise. “This tension is unbearable,” he whispers to her. “We must sustain it,” says Margaret with a grin. They are ready and willing to play both camps.

“People are already taking sides, and I fear the outcome,” Elizabeth tells Anthony in private and instructs him to bring Prince Edward to her from Wales. Anthony says not to worry about Richard since he is a decent man. “I don’t trust any of them,” she cries.

At the same time, Cicely, at the foot of her dead son, tells Richard not to trust Elizabeth and get the prince at once. Anne agrees with Cicely that Prince Edward must be kept in their care, not Elizabeth’s. Anne and Cicely bonded during George’s death and that closeness is apparent now. Richard is put off by their scheming, “so leave being Lord Protector to me.”

Richard and Anne already are taking control at court, kicking out Edward’s longtime mistress Jane Shore, from of the castle. But Jane finds comfort with Anthony.

Jasper, meanwhile, tells Henry to get ready for his return to London, but they won’t be going just yet.

Prince Edward is intercepted by Richard’s men on his way to London to be crowned. Anne and Richard lock him in the Tower of London, which they say is for his protection.

Elizabeth is livid and starts making plans to challenge Richard. But Anthony and Lizzy are worried. “Mother, talk to uncle Richard,” Lizzy says. “Only fools wait to see if their enemies might be friends,” the queen retorts.

Elizabeth is vulnerable without protection and flees to sanctuary in Westminster Abbey with her children and tells them to be brave.

Richard learns of the queen’s plan to raise a naval fleet against him and seeks the arrest of the admiral and Thomas Grey (Elizabeth’s son from her first marriage) for treason. Thomas eventually manages to escape.

Anne, all the while, has her sights set on the throne, and Margaret offers her services as a lady-in-waiting.

Anthony goes to Richard to work out an agreement, and Edward is to be crowned in three days.

Both Anthony and Richard seem to be reasonable men in wanting the dead king’s wishes carried out without conflict, but it is Elizabeth, Anne and Cicely who are the drivers of fear, suspicion and dissension. Who holds the power? It is the women who push men to seize it for them.

Jane brings the queen a secret message from Anthony about the coronation. Maybe there’s hope for a truce after all, and Elizabeth and Richard start to relent in their campaigns. But this is bad news for Stanley and Margaret. They will only succeed if Richard and Elizabeth are at odds and aim to topple one another. So Margaret tries to rile the queen with rumors about her children’s legitimacy and Anne’s refusal to be fitted for a gown for Edward’s coronation. Stanley does some dirty work of his own by telling Richard and Anne that Jane has been passing messages to the queen. Their scheming works. Richard has Anthony arrested and punishes Jane with an embarrassing public penance.

Richard then summons the prince’s younger brother to join Edward in the tower to prepare for the coronation — but Elizabeth does the old switcheroo.

The queen puts a curse on Richard’s sword arm and he starts to feel the effects. Anne says it is Elizabeth’s witchcraft.

An insecure Richard wants all of the traitors rooted out. Guards search Margaret and Stanley’s rooms for evidence of conspiracy and come close to finding what they are looking for.

He may have strong intention and fair judgment, but Richard ultimately is too weak in will against his Anne and Cicely. They masterfully try to convince Richard to take the crown for himself. “I can’t be seen to be stealing the throne,” Richard says. But Cicely reminds Richard that Elizabeth’s children are likely illegitimate since Edward was earlier married to another woman. Anne says Richard will be justified and sanctified if he names himself king. So he reluctantly agrees and pushes parliament to declare Elizabeth’s marriage to Edward invalid.

Margaret and Stanley, meanwhile, assemble allies and expand their plot. Margaret sends a physician to the Abbey to tell Elizabeth that Richard plans to make himself king.

Richard visits Anthony in prison and says he can’t trust the Rivers family. He orders Anthony and his nephew Richard Grey executed for conspiracy.

Lizzy, who appears to share Jacquetta and Elizabeth’s gift for premonition, rails against her mother for her never-ending ambition. Elizabeth vows, despite her sanctuary, to restore her family’s good name and get her sons back.

It’s finally coronation time, but not for Edward. All hail King Richard III and Queen Anne.

What did you think of this episode of “The White Queen?” Leave your thoughts in the comments field.

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